22 June 2013, Rome, Italy – FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva welcomed Singapore’s admission as a new FAO Member when he met Mohamad Maliki Bin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Singapore Ministry for National Development here today. FAO’s governing Conference admitted Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and South Sudan to membership on June 15.

Turning to the country’s food security strategy, the Secretary explained that Singapore is not an agricultural country, and imports 90 percent of its food. It is, however, pioneering vertical farming systems, which the Director-General said he sees as a valid complement to traditional systems.

Graziano da Silva congratulated Singapore for its Research and Development focus and invited the country to play an increasing role in South-South cooperation, particularly in light of the contribution the country’s educational skills can make.